Chapter 22 #2
From: Lauren Kane
To: Nate O’Brien, Cassidy Calloway
Subject: Thursday Media Interview—Arrival Time & Talking Points
Hi Nate and Cassidy,
Just confirming the details for tomorrow morning’s segment with MLB Inside Access.
The interview will be filmed at the stadium in the field-level lounge near the first base tunnel.
This is a pre-scheduled PR piece tied to the charity game and will highlight the team’s community efforts and the success of the fan engagement campaign (aka you two).
Arrival Time:
Please arrive no later than 9:15 AM. Segment filming begins at 10:00 AM sharp.
What to Expect:
Light, fun interview format
8–10 minutes total recording time
Focus will be on the charity game, team community culture, and “the unexpected magic of a fan-favorite moment”
Some lighthearted Q&A about how you met, first impressions, and how the idea for the softball game came to life
Optional solo questions from Cassidy about her platform and new charity branch
No live audience, but footage will be syndicated online via MLB Inside Access and shared on Gila Monsters social media channels
Wardrobe:
Nate: standard media polo or team-issued warmup
Cassidy: outfit of your choosing—feel free to lean into your brand (Lauren-approved, of course)
Cassidy, I’ll be there to help you navigate on-site, and PR staff will mic you both just before we begin.
Thank you both again for leaning in. This is going to be a great piece for the organization—and a good one for you, too.
—Lauren
“I need to start getting ready in thirty minutes to get there on time.” Cassidy ran her fingers through my hair, a soft smile on her lips as she stared at me. “You also mentioned presents last night. Something you should definitely know about me, Nate, is that I love presents.”
Her joy was infectious and I pushed out of her bed, trying not to groan.
My body was sore. Tired. I never slept super well in hotels and the entire time I worried about Amanda, or Cassidy, or some combination.
I finally slept a whole seven hours last night and now my neck had a crick in it.
“I might have oversold on the presents part. They are small gifts.”
“That’s okay! I will love them anyway.” She bounced on her feet as we walked back toward her living room. The bag remained on the ground and I bent down, reaching into it for the items.
Her breath hitched. “My god, Nate.”
I turned slightly to look at her, one brow raised. “What?”
Her hand landed on my back—warm, tentative at first, then bolder, fingers trailing down my spine like she couldn’t stop herself. “You’re … back.” Her voice cracked. “Holy shit.”
I smirked. “That a medical observation, sunshine? Or are you just really into post-road-trip soreness?”
Cassidy blinked fast. Her eyes dropped to my chest, lingered, then darted to my neck, then back to my chest. “I—uh—forgot you were shirtless.”
I straightened slowly, dragging it out, very aware of her eyes tracing every inch of me. I plucked the bag off the floor and turned toward her, intentionally taking my sweet time.
She cleared her throat and crossed her arms, but her eyes remained on my body. I knew I took care of myself and yeah, she was into me, but to see her physical reaction to my chest and back? I felt fucking proud. It wasn’t just me then that was barely hanging on with our attraction to each other.
“You should’ve told me you were this … hot.”
“Oh, really? When should I have done that?” I asked, amused as fuck. This was the best morning of all time. “How should I have done that? Oh hey, Calloway, you might forget how to form sentences when you see my chest?”
She opened her mouth to respond. Nothing came out. Then she shook her head and muttered, “Unbelievable,” as she reached for the bag. “Presents, please.”
“Sure, right, you need a distraction. Would you like me to put a shirt on for you too?”
“Ye—actually—no.” She chewed her bottom lip as she continued to check me out. “I’m confused right now. I want to lick your chest, like actually taste your skin because I’m so heated and attracted to you right now. But I really want to open my presents.”
I grinned and leaned against the counter, arms crossed, just watching her unravel with every glance in my direction.
I was used to being hit on, checked out, all that shit.
That wasn’t new. When I was younger and stupider, I relished in the attention but I hadn’t in a while.
Someone always wanted a part of me, the fame, money or some combination of it.
Cassidy didn’t need my fame, or my money.
She had all that. So to see her attraction to me, without all the noise, lit something inside me.
“Nate, stop stalling.” She wiggled her toes into her carpet, the bright orange color popping against the dark color.
“Right, well, here.” I handed the bag to her, heat prickling my ears. “They are small, you might hate them.”
“A deck of cards with tornados?” She grinned, eyes twice as large. “No way, Nate O’Brien! Where did you get these? Say a gas station, please say that.” She held them to her chest, and smiled so large, you would’ve thought I gave her a million bucks.
“Yeah.” I gripped the back of my neck, embarrassment plucking at me. “You like decks of cards.”
“How did you know?” She practically bounced toward a side table where she opened a drawer and carefully set them down. “These are perfect. I’ve never been to … where are they from?”
“Kansas.”
“Yeah, never been there, but I love collecting weird gas station cards. My dad and I always picked out the goofiest one.” She smiled at the deck, her blue eyes even lighter. She crumpled the plastic bag and her expression shifted. “Wait, there is more?”
Her excitement caused something deep and protective to form in my chest. This happiness over such simple things had to be protected at all costs. Her reaction made me want to buy her a thousand decks of cards.
“No way.”
She held up the Yogi Berra shirt. The one I found in the same gas station next to an entire display for the Midwest world series win.
This shirt was gray, and super soft, but it had one of her dad’s favorite quotes, Just hit on the strikes.
“I watched every one of your videos. I saw the cards and shirt … and thought of you.”
“Oh, Nate.”
The way her voice softened, the way her expression melted as she stared at me caused my heart to pound against my ribcage. No one had ever looked at me like that before.
She held it up to her face, closed her eyes, then launched herself at me.
She buried her face into my chest, her hair tickling my skin as I held her.
I cupped the back of her neck, digging my fingers into her hair while my other hand rested on her waist. She smelled so fucking good, her vanilla shampoo mixed with some floral perfume.
I inhaled, loving how she felt against me.
“Thank you,” she mumbled, her lips grazing my chest and causing a rush of heat down me.
“I don’t know how you knew about the cards, but this is … I needed this. A reminder of him.”
She stood on her toes and kissed my chin. “You are wonderful.”
My face definitely fucking heated from her praise, but I didn’t respond. I just held her tighter.
I had no idea what the hell we were to each other, or if this realistically could be anything, but I knew one thing. Cassidy Calloway buried her way into my life and I wasn’t sure I’d ever let her go.